When you see your pool looks dull, and scrubbing and vacuuming are not even getting it totally cleaned, you need to search for how to acid wash a pool.
After reading this entire article from beginning to end, you will understand the effective ways to acid wash your pool.
However, working with acid can be dangerous; therefore, you need to take precautions before doing an acid wash in your pool.
What acid washes a pool really means?
Acid wash not only just cleans the surface of your pool but also strips a very thin layer of plaster off the surface of the pool. Does removing plaster make you worried? You better not worry, as a pool’s plaster coating is at least ½ an inch thick, where acid removes a very thin layer, which is safe.
What types of pools can be acid-washed?
Before you start working with acid, you need to understand which pools can have the capacity to take an acid wash. You can use only acid wash over an in-ground concrete made or gunite pool.
How to acid wash a pool?
There are huge differences between pool acid wash before and after. The benefits are huge. You must follow the process given below-
- You first need to drain and clean the pool. In order to drain, you need to use the algae brush scrub for scrubbing all over the surfaces to remove debris, dirt, and algae before it can dry.
- When the water level drops, you now need to wet down the surfaces with the hose and spray nozzle to remove the debris that you scrubbed off already.
- When you find your pool is empty, remove any debris that was too large to drain out and then rinse any remaining dirt from the floor.
- You will have to remove one or more valves when you are draining the pool.
- Then replace them to prevent any acid mixture from seeping into the groundwater.
- You now need to dilute the acid. In the watering can add equal parts acid magic to water. If you washed your pool after draining and made a difference in the plaster’s appearance, you could add less acid than a 1:1 ratio. The less acid you use, the better it will be for the pool plaster.
- Next, prepare the garden hoses. Prepare to use a lot of water here; you now need to connect one garden hose to a spigot, and then put the other end in the pool and turn the water on. You should not connect a spray nozzle to the nose and keep the water running. Then connect the second garden hose to another spigot, put the other end in the pool, and then attach the spray nozzle and turn the water on. Make sure to keep the water running.
- Use the hose without the nozzle to wet down the surface before you start pouring the acid mixture onto it. You should keep in mind that pouring acid over a dry surface can damage the plaster. However, you should pour the acid in a circular pattern, and your helping hands must be ready with an acid brush and scrubbing the surface. Then let the mixture sit for around 30 to 60 seconds, depending on the level of dirtiness.
- After that, you will have to rinse the scrubbed area with the spray nozzle and then mix a few pounds of soda ash into the water that collects in the bowl to neutralize the acid in it. You have to keep working your way around the bottom of the pool by doing the pouring, scrubbing, and rinsing. Then start working on the walls, pour the acid mixture from the top of the pool wall, allowing the helper to follow behind, and scrub the walls. Allow the mixture to sit for 60-90 seconds. Now do the pouring, scrubbing, and rinsing, and finishing up in the deep end.
Conclusion
People usually wonder how to acid wash a pool effectively. Those who need a guideline to acid wash a pool should follow the entire process as described above. If you see a 1:1 acid mixture does not remove stains or brightens the plaster well, you may need to increase the mixture’s strength, or you can also scrub with a little more pressure. However, it would be best if you keep in mind that you will have to wear appropriate acid safety masks, safety goggles, acid-resistant boots, acid-resistant gloves, a long-sleeved shirt, and long pants to keep yourself safe from danger.